Intrenching-tool.



No. 779,562. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. 0. M. RANSOM.

INTRBNGHING TOOL.

' APPLIOATIOH FILED JAN. 21, 1903.

WITNESSES INVENTUH lb. HTTUHNEY No. 779,562. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

G. M. R ANSD M.

INTRENGHING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1003.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\MTNESSES INyENmH Mil-s: I /O HTTUHNEY No. 779,562. PATENTED JAN. 10,1905. G. M. RANSOM.

INTRENUHING TOOL.

APPLIOATION rum) JAN. 21, 1903.

asuszTs-snzm av WITNESSES", f If INVENTEJFI if4 LE5 Inn/$0 HTTBHNE"Patented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

(.HARLES M. RANSOM, OF, BUFFALO. NEW YORK.

lNTRENCHlNG-TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 779,562, dated January10, 1905.

Application filed January 21, 1903. Serial No. 139.908.

To all whom it may concern.

Be itknown that I. CHARLES M. Ransom. a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo. in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Intrcnching-Tools; and Ido hereby declare the following to he a fulhclear, and exact descriptionof the invention. such as willenahlc others skilled in them-t to whichit appcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in intrenching-tools for soldiersuse. and more particularly to that class which are intended to hecarried upon and employed with the gun of the soldier.

The object of my invention is to equip each soldier who carries a gunwith a combinationtool adapted for various uses--such as throwing upintrenchments, removing or leveling obstacles, &c.-snch tool when id leto he removably seated in a recess in the butt of the gun and when inuse to be adapted for operative engagement with the gun. which thenserves as a handle.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction of theintrenching-tool.

To this end my invention consists. broadly. of an intrenching-toolcarried upon and operated with a gun and specifically of certain detailsof construction, all of which will be fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings,Figurcl isaside view of the stock of a gun with myimproved intrenchingtool seated therein. Fig. 2 isaside view of thestock with the intrenchingtool removed.

Fig. 3 is adetached detail of the holding- 5 spring. Fig. 4 is a view ofthe intrenchingtool detached, presenting the face opposite to that shownin Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view ofthcrmirend of the gun-stmzk. showing the socket or opening for the shank of theintrenching-tool closed by a plate. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing thesocket open and ready for thcinsertion of the shank of theint-ronchlng-tool. Fig. 8 is a perspectivc view of the socket member andbuttplate detached from the gun-stock.

Fig. 9 is l a fragmentary view of the stock with the intrenching-tool inoperative engagement therewith. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal enlargedsection of Fig. 9, taken on the line .I' :r. Fig. 11 illustrates myimproved intrenching-tool removably attached to the bayonet of a gun.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the preferredform of my im proved intrenching-tool, which is fully illustrated inFigs. 1. 4, and 5, has a substantially trowelshaped body 1 forefl'ectiveuse in loosening and throwing up earth to form intrenchments. One sideedge of the tool is formed with a row of teeth 2 to be utilized as asaw, the opposite edgeB being in the form of a blade for cuttingpurposes. The cutting edge 3 is extended rearwardly and curved backtoward the median line to form the lateral hook 4 for engaging andpulling down overhead obstructions. A notch 5 is formed in thetransverse edge wall of the hook 4 and preferably at the inner side ofthe book. which is intended for engagement with wire fences or the likeobstructions to sever and remove the same.

6 is the rectangular shank of the tool for holding engagement with thestock or butt of the gun, by means of which the intrcnchingtool may beutilized. the gun serving as a handle. Across one side of the shank 6(see Fig. 1) is the transverse shoulder 7 for engagement with thelocking device in the stock or butt of the gun. The socket 8 (see Fig.5) in the shank 6 is for the reception of the bayonet 9. (see Fig. 11,)which may, if desired, serve as a handle in lieu of the gun. The socketis preferably formed by two grooved flanges, which tig tcnd laterallyfrom the shank. as shown in mg. a.

10 is a recess (see Fig. 2) in one side of the stock or butt 11.corresponding in configuration with the intrcnching-tool and in whichsuch tool is removably seated when notin use. The spring 12 (see Figs.and 3) is secured at one end of the floor of the recess ll), its otheror free end being provided with the shoulder 13 for holding engagementwith the intrvnching-tool. (See Fig. l.) The thumb-piece l-l oppositethe shoulder 13 is manipulated in disl engaging the intrcnching-tnol.

When the intrenching-tool is placed in its recess 10, its outer point islirst inserted in the groove in, formed in the side wall of said recess,(see Fig. [0,) which provides an overhanging llnngc that, together withthe springcutch i2 13, serves to hold such tool securely againstaccidental displacement. 'l his groove 1 is preferably formed at theforward extremity of the recess so as to engage or receive the point ofthe tool, as shown, and the springtensioncd locking-catch near theopposlte end to catch over the edge of the hook t.

In the end of the stock or butt is cut a rectangulnr recess, into whichis fitted and se- 2 cured a socket member and locking device forreceiving and holdlng the inlrenchlng-tool n operative position. Saidsocket member IS in the form of a box. which is rigidly attached Figs.6, 7 S, and 10 clearly illustrate its construction, of 5 which 15 isametal butt-plate or end piece; screwed upon and covering the end of thei to the butt-plate of the gun.

gun-stock.

16 is a rectangular socket member or box, which is attached to and formsa part of the butt-plate l5 and rests within the recess in the stock.This socket 16 opens out through the butt-plate 15, as at 17. (See Fig.7.) One of the side walls 18 of the socket 16 has the opening 19, and inthe lugs 20 20, extending from the socket, is pivoted the locking-plate:21, adapted to close the opening 17 in the absence of theintrenching-tool and to he swung away from such opening to permit of theinsertion of the shank 6 ot' the intrenching-tool.

On the inner face of the plate 21 is a rectangular lug 22, against oneside of which the leaf-spring 23 has contact to hold the plate 21 in theplane of the end piece 15 to close the socket l6. (Shown in Figs. 6 and8.)

When the plate 21 has been thrown into the position shown in Figs. t and10, the shank 6 of the intrenching-tool is thrust within the socket 16until the shoulder T has passed the farther edge of such plate, when theleafspring 23 will force the plate 1 against the shank and in lockingengagement with the shoulder T. The play of the plate 21 under thepressure of the spring is permitted by reason of the slot 24, in whichthe carrying-trunnhm 2.3 of the plate 21 has play sutlicicnt for thepurpose. A pin 26 on the plate 21 engages with a groove 27 (see Fig. 1H)when the plate swings outwardly to limit its outward movement.

In the manner hereinhet'orc described the intrenching-tool is heldfirmly in the stock or butt of the gun, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, andcan be easily removed when desired and l deposited in itscnrrying-recess in the sidcoi' the stock or butt.

My improved inlrcnching-tool, with the gun serving as the handle, isextremely useful in the hands of a soldier in throwing up intrenchmvntsand breastworks, in cutting, sawing. pulling down or aside any and allobstructions which impede his progress through forests underbrush,jungles, or barbed-wire troehas. It is also equally serviceable in thehands of a hunter in a variety of ways. When the stock of the gun is toolong for effective service, the bayonet can be substituted therefore,and in the absence of the bayonet E a stout stick or bar can be insertedin the 7 socket in the shank to serve as an emergencyhundle to renderthe tool efl'cctive.

One of the advantages is that the shank of the intrenching-tool isexteriorly formed for l insertion into a socket and interiorly formedfor the reception of a bayonet or the like, 1 thereby adapting thedevice for both interior 1 or exterior attachment.

i I claim-- 1. The combination with an intrenching tool having a shankprovided with a shoulder, of a gun having. socket to receive said shank,and a pivoted spring-plate normally closing the socket and adapted to bepressed back by the entrance of the shank into the socket and to lockagainst the shoulder.

2. An intrenching-tool having a trowelshaped body provided with oppositecutting and sawing edges and it lateral hook.

3. The combination with the butt. of a gun g provided with a recess inits side, a socket in its end and a pivoted spring-pressed plate in ithe outer end of the socket, of an intrenchiug-tool removably carried inthe recess in the side of the butt and provided withashank for insertionwithin the socket in the butt, such shank having a shoulder for lockingengagement with the pivoted spring-pressed plate.

4. An intrenching-tool having it hook and a wire-cutting notch at theinner side of said book.

5. An intrenching-tool having a trowelshnped hod ,v and a shankextending therefrom and having laterally extending grooved flangesconstituting a socket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

C. B. BUTLER, W. 'l. Mum-1n.

